Driving in Guatemala vs. Malta: Key Safety Differences
When comparing the driving landscapes of Guatemala and Malta, several notable distinctions emerge. From the contrasting sides of the road to varied speed limits and traffic regulations, these countries present unique challenges for travelers. Understanding these disparities is essential for ensuring a secure and informed driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Guatemala | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the left edge on some divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Often used to indicate parking restrictions. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with vehicles in some areas. | Shared use with caution, marked on roads. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Varies by location. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
guatemala:
Right
malta:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
guatemala:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
guatemala:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
Overtaking: On Left
guatemala:
Yes
malta:
No
Overtaking: On Right
guatemala:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
malta:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
guatemala:
Use rightmost lane.
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
guatemala:
No
malta:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
guatemala:
N/A
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
guatemala:
N/A
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
guatemala:
Limited
malta:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
guatemala:
Shared with vehicles in some areas.
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
guatemala:
Varies by location.
malta:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
guatemala:
N/A
malta:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
guatemala:
N/A
malta:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Guatemala | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Limited use | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, common practice | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
guatemala:
40-60 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
guatemala:
30 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
guatemala:
80 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
guatemala:
100 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
guatemala:
90 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
guatemala:
N/A
malta:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
guatemala:
Limited use
malta:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
guatemala:
Yes, common practice
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Guatemala | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles. |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Guatemala | Not used in Malta |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English and Maltese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow. |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
guatemala:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
malta:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
guatemala:
Not used in Guatemala
malta:
Not used in Malta
Traffic Signs: Language
guatemala:
Spanish; symbols are standard
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
guatemala:
Triangle-shaped with red border
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
Turns
| Guatemala | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Varies, check local signs for permission | Not allowed |
Right Turn On Red
guatemala:
Varies, check local signs for permission
malta:
Not allowed
Documentation
| Guatemala | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof may be required | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | Displayed on license plate or windshield. |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
guatemala:
International Driving Permit recommended
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
guatemala:
International Driving Permit recommended
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
guatemala:
Mandatory; proof may be required
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
guatemala:
Displayed on the vehicle
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
guatemala:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
guatemala:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Guatemala | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
guatemala:
More frequent use compared to some countries
malta:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
guatemala:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
malta:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Guatemala | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially at night | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by locality; can be substantial | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
guatemala:
0.00%
malta:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
guatemala:
0.00%
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
guatemala:
Common, especially at night
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
guatemala:
Varies by locality; can be substantial
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Guatemala | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
guatemala:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Guatemala | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 122 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 112 for emergencies |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
guatemala:
122
malta:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
guatemala:
110
malta:
112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
guatemala:
Check with your insurance provider
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
guatemala:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
guatemala:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Guatemala | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines | Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines imposed | Typically around €50, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines imposed | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, often required | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; check with local authorities | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
guatemala:
Varies; substantial fines
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
guatemala:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
guatemala:
Fines imposed
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
guatemala:
Fines imposed
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
guatemala:
Substantial fines
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
guatemala:
Yes, often required
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
guatemala:
Varies; check with local authorities
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay